Fastener for garments



Dec. 16, 1941. w. MOKINLEY FASTENER FOR GARMENTS Filed Jan. 23, 1941 Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED srarss PATENT OFFICE FASTENER FOR GARMENTS William McKinley, Moline, Ill. Application January 23, 1941, Serial No. 375,575

6 Claims. (01. 24-228) This invention relates to a new and improved fastener for garments and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a buckle type fastener for securing straps in place.

An important object of this invention is to provide a fastener for the straps of shop aprons that firmly hold the straps in their proper position on the body of the apron, and yet are readily removed from the apron with the utmost of ease.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a spring type buckle that is fastened at one side to the end of a strap, while the other side is adapted to speedily engage an eyelet and remain in a cleaving position until removal is desired.

A still further important object of this invention is to provide an apron holding harness having clasps at its ends for fastening to eyelets strategically positioned on the apron proper, and so securely holding the apron on the body of the wearer without any undue stress or strain.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a shop apron on a worker with the harness incorporating the fasteners of this invention, supporting it in the proper position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the fastener for garments of this invention.

Figure 3 is a detail of the front of the device.

Figure 4 is a side view of the fastener.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the fastener having a strap attached thereto.

Figure 6 is a further perspective of the spring fastener shown in a compressed position for ready entry in an eyelet.

Figure '7 shows the spring fastener placed through an yelet and with the tension relieved.

Figure 8 shows a slightly modified form of fastener.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral [8 indicates generally a human body over which fits an apron l2. This apron I2 is the regular shop type with no integral means of support. It is provided with four eyelets reinforced with metal bushings one on each side of the bib portion shown at M and I6, and one on each side of the skirt .portion as shown at I8 and 2B. The supporting straps 22, 24, 26 and 28 are preferably joined to a common central connecting tab 38 around which they are free to swing.

The end of each strap 22, 24, 28 and 28 is equipped with a fastener such as is shown in Figures 2 to 6 inclusive. This fastener is made from a single piece of spring wire bent to the proper shape. As best shown in Figure 2 the wire is bent at its middle to form a loop 32 through which the end of a strap is sewn as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Both ends of the wire are then bent forwardly to form sides 34 and 35. The forward ends of the sides 34 and 36 are bent toward each other as shown at 38 and 48, and then each of these is bent forward again as shown at 42 and 44. The length of segment 44 is greator than that of 42 in order to allow the fastener to be compressed as best shown in Figure 6. The ends of 42 and 44 are then bent upwardly as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 at 46 and 48. The upper portions of 46 and 48 are then bent away from each other shown at 50 and 52, thus completing the entire fastener.

In operation the fastener as shown in Figure 5 having a strap 28 sewn through the loop 32 is compressed as shown in Figure 6 by an inward pressure on the sides 34 and 38. This compression of the sides makes the locking elements 46, 48, 50 and 52 of the fastener assume a minimum width to enable them to pass through eyelets. Figure '7 shows an enlarged detail of a portion of the shop apron I2 having the eyelet 28 reinforced with a metal bushing 54. The upright portions 48 and 48 of the fastener protrude up through the eyelet and the outwardly bent prongs 58 and 52 overlap the bushing 54 upon releasing the pressure from the sides 34 and 36. The fastener will remain locked in the eyelet until pressure is again exerted upon the sides of it and it is extracted downwardly. The fastener lies flat against the wearer because the uprights 48 and 48 take care of the thickness of the garment material including eyelet bush- 1ngs.

It is an easily operated fastener, and very secure in its locking performance. The need for an efficient apron sup-porter is truly great. It is customary for industrial companies to issue aprons to their shop employees every week for the purpose of cleanliness. These aprons as hereofore described have no means of support, and it is necessary for each worker to supply some means of support. Some workers use rope or cord which binds, and, is very uncomfortable and inefficient. Others probably have made themselves some 56 means of support, but without my quick and easy to operate fasteners. Still others do not use their aprons because it is too much bother to find something with which to put them on.

Proper securing of aprons on a worker prevents accidents caused by loosely positioned aprons becoming caught in machinery. It is possible with my harness or suspenders to have adjustment around the neck and waist by having the straps adjustable.

My fastener does not necessarily have to take the same shape as shown in the drawing, but can be varied in form without changing its method of utility as shown in Figure 8 wherein the sides 56 and 58 of the fastener are in different planes, or in other words offset from each other so as to allow for ready compression of the fastener to a point where the eyelet locking elements have passed each other. The offsetting of the sides of the fastener as shown in Figure 8 is not necessary for the operation of this type of fastener because when the sides are in the same plane as heretofore shown they are very easily offset by a slight twisting when compression is made.

This fastener is simple and very economical to manufacture. It can be made to sell cheaply and is exactly what shop workers want. My desire is not to limit this fastener to use on shop aprons, but to use it in anyplace, or on any garment it can successfully be employed.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fastener comprising a unitary spring wire bent to form a rear and sides, the forward ends of the sides bent toward each other, each end then bent forwardly and then upwardly, and the upper end of each bent outwardly.

2. A fastener comprising a unitary spring wire bent to form a rear and parallel sides, the forward ends of the sides bent toward each other, each end then bent forwardly and then upwardly, and the upper end of each bent outwardly, and the rear of the fastener having a loop therein.

3. A spring wire fastener formed in a U shape, the upper portions of the U legs bent inwardly a short distance and then forwardly an unequal distance, and then bent at right angles upwardly, and the upper ends of each then bent outwardly.

4. A spring wire buckle type fastener having a loop at one end, sides formed beyond the extrem-- ities of the loop, inward facing segments at the ends of the sides, unequal forward segments continuing from the inward facing segments, uprights at the ends of each forward segment, and outwardly bent prongs.

5. A buckle formed from a single piece of spring wire, a loop in the wire, forwardly projecting arms on each side of the loop, the ends of these arms turned in toward each other and then forward again whence they are turned substantially vertically upwardly and then turned away from each other and both terminating at these points.

6. A spring wire fastener having a loop at one end, sides formed in different planes beyond the extremities of the loop, inward facing segments at the ends of the sides, unequal forward seg ments continuing from the inward facing segments, uprights at the ends of each forward segment, and outwardly bent prongs.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY. 

